Laura finished straining Fawn’s new milk and set the pan
aside. It was only five o’clock, but the day had been so
full that she felt somewhat tired. There was the hurried
preparation for the drive to Reverend Brown’s, and then
the celebration meal at home.
Finally, Ma and the girls had helped her pack up all of
her things to take to the new little house that Manly
had built for her. After doing the chores and putting
everything in its proper place, Laura felt estranged.
She wiped her damp palms on her calico work-apron and
recalled the night before. Ma had taken her aside to
explain to her about married life. Her “marital duties”,
Ma explained, were an unpleasant but necessary
obligation that she must fulfill without question.
Laura was so lost in thought that the bottom dropped out
of her stomach when Manly came up behind her. “Oh,
Manly!” she gasped in surprise.
He felt her tiny waist in his hands and he gave her a
little squeeze. Laura was so nervous that her corsets
felt far too tight. In the August heat they nearly
suffocated her.
“I’ve got threshing to do tomorrow at the Webbs’,” Manly
said quietly, “so I think it best that we get to bed
early tonight.”
Laura quailed at what lay ahead. Ma mentioned that it
would hurt terribly but there was no help for it, that
was how babies were made. Laura’s tongue was so dry in
her mouth that she could hardly speak, but somehow she
choked out, “Do we have to?”
Instead of answering, he led her by the hand to the back
bedroom. There stood the wide bed, all fresh and crisp
with its plump goosedown pillows and the Dove-in-the-
Window quilt she had made as a girl, spread upon it. Her
bed had always meant sleep to Laura before, but tonight
she knew it would mean something terribly different, and
tomorrow she would have to wash the bloodstains from the
snow-white sheets. She longed to run to the linen closet
and at least put a towel down, but Manly would know why
she did that, and it would just be too embarrassing. She
would rather do the extra work.
“It’s strange to be going to bed while it’s still light
out,” she offered, not quite knowing what to do.
“I expect we’ll be going to bed later on, most days.”
Manly sat carefully on the bed and removed his boots.
They made a thump, thump sound as they hit the floor.
“You’re not getting undressed in front of me, are you?”
Laura was shocked. Manly stopped what he was doing.
“Of course I am, Laura. We’re married now, we’re husband
and wife.”
As his shirt came off she saw the hard-muscled chest and
arms. They were tanned and had little golden hairs on
them. Laura wanted to touch him, to feel the smoothness
of his skin under her fingertips. The boldness of her
thoughts embarrassed her. She blushed and turned her
back.
Laura unbuttoned the front of her dress and stepped out
of it. She let the silky thickness of her long brown
hair slide past her shoulders, grateful for the screen
it provided.
Manly watched as she undid her corset and quickly
reached for her bleached muslin nightgown. She slipped
it over her head and only then did she remove her shoes,
drawers and petticoats.
Manly didn’t bother putting on his nightshirt. He loved
Laura, ever since he had seen her as a girl of thirteen.
She and Carrie were lost among the tall grasses of Big
Slough and just happened upon him and Royal, mowing hay.
He knew right then when he saw her blue-eyed merriness
that he wanted her for his wife. That was five years
ago, thought Manly, and she sure doesn’t look merry now.
Laura could feel his gaze at her back. She could hardly
bear the strain of it all. She dreaded getting into that
bed but she knew she must. Quick as a flash she was
there beside him. And then Laura saw that Manly was
completely bare as she lifted the quilt to get in. A
lump came to her throat when she saw how big he was. “I
don’t want to do this!” she blurted.
Concerned, Manly asked, “But why, Laura? Don’t you love
me?”
“Of course I do, but I don’t want you to hurt me and Ma
says there’s no other way!” She was almost in tears as
she sat limply down on the bed.
“Laura, I promise that I will do my best not to hurt
you.” Manly was very earnest. “And if I am doing
something you don’t like, I will stop if you ask me.” He
took her small hands in his, and she relaxed a little.
At Manly’s request she took off her nightgown. They
snuggled down together, and to Laura it was strange to
feel his bare skin against her own. Deep inside she felt
a wobbly little tingle.
As for Manly, the feel of her against him inflamed his
desire more than he ever knew possible. He touched her
glossy hair and buried his face in the smoothness of it.
He gave tender little kisses to her white neck. Laura
was so small, so delicate and perfect, that he was
afraid he’d break her.
Manly’s large, strong hands gently stroked her, as he
would a cat. A sound, like a purr, came from deep inside
her throat. He stopped, surprised.
“I don’t know where that came from,” she made apology.
“I don’t mind, Laura–whatever you do is fine with me.”
Strangely the sound had increased his need for her. The
sounds increased as Manly continued to knead and stroke
her beautiful body. Laura moaned and gasped, she writhed
under his touch. She felt a warm dampness between her
legs as his lips met her nipple. She dared a kiss to his
salty neck, and then opened her mouth to tease him with
her tongue.
“Oh, God!” Laura’s tender advances made Manly ache with
hunger. He took her hand and placed it for her on his
hard erection. At first she pulled back and then,
intrigued, she tightened her grasp.
The smoothness of his sex surprised and delighted Laura.
The way Ma had described it she expected it to be rough
and sharp. A clear drop of liquid rose to the top and
perched on the tip. Without thinking, she tasted it. It
was salty. Manly groaned a deep groan and then gasped as
she sucked on the head. My God! Where had she learned to
do that?
Laura was really only satisfying her own forbidden
yearnings. They had begun just three years before when
Manly first gave her a ride to school in his new buggy.
She didn’t know that he’d had his eye on her for some
time, but his friendly manner and rugged good looks had
opened a place in her heart that she had not known was
there.
The wetness between Laura’s legs continued to grow as
Manly firmly stroked and massaged all of her backside.
He snaked his hand between her legs and gently rubbed
her there. The force of her reaction both startled and
aroused him even more. Manly could smell her clean
perspiration and something more that drove him wild.
He licked and pawed her breasts, thighs, and navel. Then
he smelled her fragrance most strongly. It came from
between her legs. Irresistibly Manly was drawn closer.
Suddenly he was licking the soft folds of her sex and
tasting of her erotic flavor. The incredible tightness
in his groin was almost more than he could stand.
Laura lost herself in the smooth, buttery feeling that
came from down there and spread all throughout her body.
Strangely, the bottoms of her feet felt hot and her face
was flushed. Her erect nipples were like roses on the
white of her breasts. Manly reached up to caress one and
rapidly lapped back and forth with his tongue.
“Oh, Manly! What are you doing to me?” Laura wanted to
laugh and cry and sob with pleasure all at once.
Manly knew he could hold himself back no longer. “Laura,
I’m coming inside of you now, okay?” His breath was
rapid and he could hear his heart pounding in his ears.
Laura spread her legs wider, feeling a squirmy ache
within her that longed to be satisfied.
Manly guided his swollen cock-head into her untried sex.
With one hand he held himself up, fearful of putting too
much weight on her, and with the other he stroked and
massaged the button at the top of her silky petals.
He went in carefully, inch-by-inch, knowing he must do
it right, for Laura’s first time. She gasped and writhed
beneath him. Droplets of sweat delicately beaded her
forehead. He felt how close and hot she was, and he
almost lost control of himself. Manly saw some blood but
Laura made no mention of pain.
She felt a small amount of discomfort but it almost went
unnoticed as she was carried away by wave after wave of
ecstatic pleasure. She clenched every muscle and cried
out when the orgasm hit her.
Manly thrust firmly and deliberately, barely holding on,
but her obvious climax so inflamed him that he came just
as hers was winding down. The fiery joy that washed over
him was beyond anything he had expected. His cries
joined Laura’s own and then he collapsed on top her,
drained, panting for breath.
They lay there in a tangle of arms, legs, and twisted
sheets. Only their heavy breathing and the night bird’s
song were heard. They had filled each other with a kind
of love that was so rare, so new, that to speak would
seem to burst its delicate shell.
The sun set just beyond the little house on the hill.
Laura and Manly sank into sleep right along with it,
knowing that the morrow was a new day for love.